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02 February 2016

Cannabis Extracts: Beginners Guide

Cannabis extracts are made by extracting cannabinoids and other molecules from Cannabis sativa L., plants. Whole plant extracts do not in fact use the whole plant, even though the whole plant is able to be used, for other purposes, such as juicing leaves or making salve with the roots etc. Whole plant extract means all the medicinal molecules from the plant are captured and concentrated; these molecules being cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids; this is what equals a whole plant extract. Cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids are found in abundance in the buds of the Cannabis plant and whole plant extracts come from the buds. There are two basic methods for extraction:

Solvent:
Chemicals separate cannabinoids from plant matter

Mechanical:
Resins are pressed out of plant using machines

For medicine, or those concerned about their chemical intake, extracts that don’t use solvents are most desirable. The following terms refer to the consistency of the extract, but are sometimes used interchangeably as terms for types of extracts:

Crumble: dry, crumbly chunks

Wax: sticky, stretchy, stays together when cool

Shatter: hard, candy-like

Live Resin: Extract taken from fresh plants instead of dried

The following are different types of Cannabis extracts:

Kief

Solvents:
None

Process: Simplest extract, using only dried trichomes collected during trimming or by rubbing buds over mesh screens.

Result: Fine, powdery dust

Note: Can be smoked on its own, but burns up quickly. Kief makes an excellent material for making extracts.

Hashish

Solvents: Herbalists use Ethanol to make Cannabis tincture or Hash oil from Hashish or Kief. Ethanol would produce lousy hashish, so it should be made without solvents

Process: Pressed kief

Result: Can form a paste-like substance through to solid chunks

Note: One of the oldest extracts, using kief and pressure, traditional hash is made. Many use hash as a generic term for extracts.

Bubble Hash

Solvents: None, ice water is used

Process: Buds or trim are run through a series of mesh screens, called Bubble
Bags, after being soaked in ice water

Result: Similar to traditional hash, but the ice bath extraction removes
more trichomes

Note: This is one of the more popular extraction techniques for DIY
smokers since the process is safe and relatively easy

ISO Hash

Solvents: Isopropyl alcohol or Ethanol

Process: Alcohol extracts cannabinoids and then evaporates

Result:
Tarry oil to shatter

Note: Also popular among DIY smokers who don’t mind chemicals in their
extract. Some believe the taste of extract suffers from this process.

BHO (Butane Hash Oil)

Solvents: Butane

Process: Cannabinoids are extracted from the plant using butane

Result: waxy oil to hard shatter

Note: make sure to test BHO as residual butane may be present

CO2
Oil

Solvents: CO2

Process: Expensive machines using pressure and CO2, in a process known as supercritical fluid extraction, separate the cannabinoids from the plant

Result: liquid (often used in vape pens) to waxy consistency

Note: much cleaner than BHO, tends to be more expensive

Budder

Solvents: Butane

Process: Plant material processed to an oil will form a gooey wax at specific
temperatures

Result: Soft, creamy 'crumbles' (like ear-wax!)

Note: Tends to have less THC than other extracts. This process preserves more
terpenes, giving it a better flavour.

Tincture

Solvents: Alcohol (Ethanol is the only form of alcohol recommended for internal medicinal
application. Never Isopropyl Alcohol (ISO) because ISO is not safe for internal use)